By Julie Mack
A criminal charge against a Kalamazoo County woman who was late renewing her dog's license have been dropped, she said Monday.

Becky Rehr, 47, of Cooper Township, said the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office filed a motion Monday to dismiss the case against her, and it was approved by a judge.

"No court and total dismissal!!!!!" she said in an email to the Kalamazoo Gazette. "I don't have to go to court and I get my bond money back. I'm free!!!!"

Rehr was originally scheduled for arraignment today in Kalamazoo County District Court on a misdemeanor count of failing to renew her dog license, a charge that carries a sentence of up to 90 days in jail and/or up to $100 fine.

The dismissal was not totally unexpected: Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein told the Gazette last week that charges are normally dismissed in such cases once the defendant proves that he or she has obtained the dog license.

Last week, Gazette detailed how Rehr was booked into jail for her laxness in renewing the license for her family's 11-year-old springer/border collie mix, Dexter.

After repeated warnings from Kalamazoo County Animal Control, Rehr renewed the license on June 18, three-and-a-half months late. Four days later, she got a letter informing her that a warrant had been taken out for her arrest.